Do I Have Cyclosporiasis or Just a Stomach Bug?
Cyclosporiasis can look like an ordinary stomach bug at first, but the pattern is different: watery diarrhea that drags on for weeks, or clears and comes back, often with heavy fatigue, cramps, lost appetite, bloating, gas, and sometimes weight loss. It comes from Cyclospora cayetanensis, a parasite picked up from contaminated food or water. Right now, during the May-through-August U.S. season, it is worth asking about if symptoms started about a week after fresh produce, including recalled iceberg lettuce, or after travel to a higher-risk region. You cannot confirm it from symptoms; that takes a stool test that specifically looks for Cyclospora.